Cost of Attendance

Cost of Attendance

Academic Year 2025-2026

By law we are required to estimate how much it costs to attend college at USAO for one year. The Cost of Attendance (COA) is a federally defined term that includes costs above and beyond what you will be billed for. This includes expenses that USAO will not bill you for, such as transportation, books, and personal expenses.

In order to calculate the COA, the Financial Aid Office reviews:

• Tuition and Fees
• Food
• Housing
• Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and equipment
• Transportation Costs
• Miscellaneous Personal Expenses and other items allowed under Section 472 of the HEA

This yearly review establishes a “budget” for students and is used to determine eligibility for financial aid. USAO uses both weighted and unweighted averages to budget the amount it will reasonably cost a student to attend during one academic year (fall and spring).

Transportation, housing, and food plan costs are determined by a student’s living expenses as either on or off campus or with a parent. Tuition and student fees are based on the USAO’s block rate. The block rate applies to fall and spring full time enrollment in 12-18 credit hours.

Students are grouped in COA categories based on:

• Residency status (in-state/out-of-state)
• Housing status (on campus/off campus/with parents)
• Enrollment status

USAO COA includes direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are related to a student’s USAO bill for enrollment. In-direct costs are other expenses not usually paid to USAO but are expected to be incurred.

All actual final costs will vary based on the student’s individual choices and personal needs. The COA shown below is not your bill.

Estimated Direct Costs of Attendance

Direct Costs per Term	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition (12-18 credit hours)	$3,315	$8,910
Mandatory Student Fees	$825	$825
Academic Service Fee	$360	$360
Textbook	$645	$645
Housing (Sparks Hall)	$2,205	$2,205
Food (12 Meals per week + $200 flex)	$2,200	$2,200
TOTAL	$9,550	$15,145

 

Estimated Total Costs of Attendance

Oklahoma resident On-Campus

Oklahoma resident Off-Campus (Not living with parent/family)

Oklahoma resident Living with Parent/Family

out-of-state resident On-Campus

out-of-state resident Off-Campus (not living with parent/family)

Components Automatically Added to Students COA

Federal Direct Student Loan Fees

Students who take out Federal Direct Loans are assessed an additional $24 semester to cover loan fees.

Students whose parents take out Parent Plus Loans are assessed an additional $152 per term to cover loan fees.

Neil-Wint Neurodiversity Program

Students who are part of the Neil-Wint Neurodiversity Program are assessed an additional $1,000 dollars a semester to fund the additional program services.
More information about this program.

Professional Licensure

Education majors who are student teaching are assessed an additional $145 for their cost of attendance to account for the PPAT test.

Adjustments to Cost of Attendance

Students have the opportunity to request a cost of attendance adjustment to reflect certain special circumstances, classifications, or benefits not already included in the COA examples include, but are not limited to 1) childcare costs associated with class times 2) longer than average commute 3) the cost to purchase a computer, etc. Items like high charge card or monthly bills, expensive rent, purchase or lease of an automobile, and costs related to another family member cannot be considered for a COA increase, many other discretionary costs do not qualify. The Financial Aid Office has the final decision on increase approval.

Considered increases must be documented to be an excessive cost above the current COA allotment. To request an increase, contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@usao.edu.

More Details on Costs

Financial Obligations and Refund Policies

• Student billing
  • Food Plans
  • Tuition and Fees
  • Housing Costs
• Charging Books and Supplies
• Guaranteed Tuition Rate
• Student Refunds